HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Five observations on the 2003 New York Jets gleaned from training camp practices on July 21:

	John Abraham had 10 sacks last season for the Jets.

1. It might not yet conjure up comparisons to the old New York Sack Exchange but, even minus suspended starting tackle Josh Evans, the Jets defensive line has the look of a very good unit. The instigator for havoc could well be first-rounder Dewayne Robertson, who, in his first couple practices, appeared to be well worth the investment New York made to move up in the first round and grab him with the fourth overall pick. Playing the "three technique" position, Robertson on the opening day of camp flashed all the attributes the scouts talked about before the draft: power, quickness, the ability to get into the backfield and disrupt the offensive flow. He wasn't supposed to start immediately but, with the loss of Evans, the former University of Kentucky star ran with the first unit all day and drew a ton of attention. His fellow tackle, Jason Ferguson, is solid enough on the nose, a good player against the run, and the two should make a nice complementary tandem. Right end John Abraham is a two-time Pro Bowl performer, the man who fuels the pass rush, and strong-side end Shaun Ellis is coming off the best season of his three-year career. After bouncing around between tackle and end his first couple years, Ellis finally settled into one position in 2002, was in better shape than he had been previously, and far more motivated. He's playing the run better and will provide occasional pressure. Abraham is a consistent double-digit sack guy who figures to benefit from the fact Robertson will be mashing people in the middle. If end Bryan Thomas continues to progress the way he did in the spring, New York will have a good rotation on the outside. A disappointment in '02, when he was a surprise first-round selection, Thomas is more mature and has paid more attention to his diet. The one caveat on the line is the depth at tackle. Veteran Chester McGlockton, signed as a stopgap after Evans was suspended, is still weeks away from being able to regularly contribute. McGlockton weighed in at 374 pounds, with 22 percent body fat, and is definitely a gamble. In sum, though, the line certainly looks to be one of the strengths of the team.

2. As good as the Jets appear to be upfront, at first glance, they might be dubious in the "back end" of their defense. And a tad on the pedestrian side, speed-wise, as well. The linebackers average 31.3 years of age and nine seasons of NFL experience. Coming off a hip problem, Mo Lewis doesn't run as well as he used to, Marvin Jones is entering his 11th season, and Sam Cowart was hardly the difference-maker in 2002 that coaches expected him to be. General manager Terry Bradway has begun to address the situation, and used a second-round pick on Michigan 'backer Victor Hobson, but the turnaround at the position can't happen overnight. The cornerbacks, likewise, appear worrisome. In starters Donnie Abraham and Aaron Beasley, and "nickel" guy Ray Mickens, there just isn't a lot of speed. Mickens and Beasley currently are listed as co-starters, but the former is better suited to his longtime "nickel" role. The lack of speed extends to strong safety Sam Garnes, always a good hitter but never particularly fluid, as well. One guy to watch is second-year free safety Jon McGraw, a second-round pick in 2002, who replaces the much-torched Damien Robinson. The former Kansas State star certainly passes the "eyeball" test. The guy just looks like a player, so much so that his teammates have nicknamed him "The Natural." McGraw seems quick enough to cover people in the slot, appears aware, has good range. The only question, and one we couldn't answer on Monday since the Jets weren't in full pads, is how physical McGraw might be. There is some feeling, talking to scouts from other teams, that he might not be a sure tackler. He's an intriguing young player, though, and has to be an upgrade over Robinson.

3. For years, Mike Westhoff has been regarded as one of the league's premier special teams coaches, and deservedly so. But the veteran kicking game mentor might need to bring all his expertise to bear in 2003 to cobble together a representative unit. The Jets lost kicker John Hall and kickoff return specialist Chad Morton, both to Washington in free agency, and they released punter Matt Turk. Word throughout the spring was that there is concern over the placement game and, at least on Monday, those worries seemed to be justifiable. Ten-year veteran Doug Brien has converted 80.3 percent of his career field goal attempts, but his confidence is rumored to be down after he was released by Minnesota last season when he missed a pair of extra points in Week 2 against Buffalo. The two other kickers in camp, much-traveled kickoff specialist Danny Kight and Arena League star Clay Rush, have never attempted a field goal in a regular-season NFL game. There's a reason, one can conclude, that Kight has been around for four years and never so much as lined up for a placement try. Brien probably has an edge over the competition, just on experience alone, but this looks like a decidedly unsettled area. New York did sign longtime punter Dan Stryzinski, still one of the league's best positional practitioners, but he will have to quickly become accustomed to the tricky winds at Giants Stadium. The 13-year veteran forces lots of fair catches, all but eliminates the opponent's return game when he really is hitting 'em high, and is adept at angling the ball to the sideline. The only drawback with Stryzinski is that he won't often punt a team out of trouble when it is backed up into the shadows of its own end zone. Santana Moss will handle punt returns and should be an explosive presence in that role but, while he has averaged 16.0 yards in two years, he has just 31 runbacks. And given his propensity for injury, and his small frame, durability is a concern. It's replacing the coveted Morton, though, that will be Westhoff's most trying challenge. New York led the NFL in 2002 in average starting drive following a kickoff, nearly the 32-yard line, and most of that was attributable to Morton's 26.0-yard average. Little wonder the Jets tried to retain Morton, a legitimate difference maker, and a guy who scored two touchdowns last season. The top candidate to replace him is former Miami return man Albert Johnson. His career average is an impressive 27.5 yards, but he's had just a dozen returns and his knees are enough of a concern that he sat out the second day of practice in camp. If you're looking for a longshot, try tiny running back Ian Smart, an undrafted free agent who will be given a shot on kickoff returns. The former C.W. Post star scored 95 touchdowns in his college career and, no matter the level of competition, that's a lot of times to get into the end zone. Still, between the kickoff return and placement games, the Jets have justifiable worries.

4. On the subject of the mercurial Moss, the team's first-round choice in 2001, and to this point in his young career a bit of a disappointment: It was curious Monday to hear head coach Herm Edwards insist, when pressed about Moss' distinct lack of production at receiver (32 catches in two seasons) and nagging injuries, that the Jets used the 16th pick in the 2001 draft to take the former Miami star as a punt returner. You get punt returners, guys like Tim Dwight, in the fourth round. Somewhere in the team's Weeb Ewbank Hall complex, the New York personnel officials had to be squirming when Edwards made that claim. Equally strange is the plan to use Moss only about 20-25 snaps a game, apparently an attempt to maximize his playmaking skills, and reduce the potential for injury. This is not, folks, an offense blessed with speed. It might be prudent of Edwards to suggest that, if Moss gets just six or seven "touches" a game, he will be productive. Prudent and likely correct. But the passing game, with Edwards mandating an increase in verticality, lacks speed. And Moss isn't going to scare any opposition cornerbacks standing on the sideline and biding time. This is the season when Moss has to stay healthy and step up. But even a few Jets staffers fear that he simply isn't physically strong enough to get through an entire 16-game schedule injury-free.

5. A lot of people watching the Jets' first day of practices remarked that the club has the distinct look of an 8-8 team. Hey, there are a lot of teams that look like that. It may well be the case that the Jets, who probably backslid from a talent standpoint over the offseason, will be just mediocre playing in the NFL's most balanced division. But the coaching staff here, starting with Edwards, is top-notch. And in an NFL that has become a coach's league, that counts for something. Edwards is a terrific motivator and he wears his emotions on his sleeve at times. But he elicits near-unwavering support and respect from players and that element can't be underestimated. It certainly doesn't hurt to have veteran staffers like Westhoff, Rubin Carter (defensive line), Jimmy Raye (assistant head coach), Ted Cottrell (defensive coordinator) and Paul Hackett (offensive coordinator), among others, around. You don't have to read too hard between the lines to realize there are some instances when Edwards and Hackett aren't always on the same page. That's just human nature and, while the head coach certainly wants to put some fingerprint on the offensive philosophy (like throwing the ball up the field more), there is a very solid working relationship on this staff.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.